Using Bend Notes for Sheet Metal Design in SolidWorks 2013

SolidWorks 2013 has some very nice enhancements for bend notes. To start, bend notes can now be controlled directly from a selected view’s PropertyManager.

Bend notes can also have more information added beyond direction, angle, and radius. Simply click on the buttons below the Bend Note field in the PropertyManager to add information. You can also build up a bend note with your own order and constant text between the bracketed syntax for the bend note information place holders.

Under Tools, Options, Document Properties, Sheet Metal, you’ll find the controls for the notes. Changing the style here will change the styles for all the bend notes in the drawing, although you can also select note and adjust them separately.

Don’t forget you can select multiple notes together to change style and position. While this isn’t new in 2013, it’s good to review the options here. See the following examples for some ideas. Thanks for reading!